A Nashville-area hospital announced new limits to the number of visitors a patient is allowed to have as coronavirus cases continue to increase.
TriStar Summit Medical Center will implement a mandate that will only allow one visitor per inpatient, according to a release from the group.
“We are committed to the health and safety of our patients, families and community. We recognize the role loved ones play in the healing process and are committed to providing our patients with an environment that is both warm and supportive, and designed to safely reduce the transmission of COVID-19. A limited visitor policy remains in place and virtual/spatially distanced visits are strongly encouraged,” the statement from TriStar Summit read.
“Virtual and spatially distanced visits remain strongly encouraged. Using devices for ‘Virtual’ visits is the safest option to reduce transmission. If visiting in person is permitted by policy, remaining ‘Socially Distanced’ and using the appropriate PPE is required.”
Other hospitals in the region have similar policies. Both Vanderbilt University Medical Center and Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital have limited the number of visitors allowed.
Coronavirus cases across the state have continued to increase. Officials have pointed to the spread of the Omicron variant as cause for the high numbers.
Medical facilities in other parts of the country have postponed elective surgeries to free certain resources in order to combat positive cases.
Recently, the Tennessee Department of Health (TDH) reconciled positive coronavirus cases and deaths throughout the state, revising the number of fatal cases upward by approximately 2,700 than initially reported.
“The COVID-19 vaccine is the best defense we have against the continued spread of the virus,” TDH Commissioner Lisa Piercey said when celebrating the one-year anniversary of Tennessee’s vaccination campaign. “As we continue to see new variants, we must understand we now live in a world where COVID-19 is present. The vaccine drastically reduces serious outcomes and protects you and those in your closest circles.”
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Cooper Moran is a reporter for The Star News Network. Follow Cooper on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Hospital Visitor” by Direct Media.
